--- title: "Free School Meals" url: "https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/free-school-meals" school: "Twyford CofE High School" --- [Twyford Sixth Form Open Evening will be on Thursday 12th November 2026. This will be a ticketed event, the online booking system will open on Thursday 5th November 2026 at 9:00 AM](https://buytickets.at/twyfordceacademiestrust/2510606) [Train to teach with Teach West London September 2027-28. Applications are now open. Learn more and apply today.](https://teachwestlondon.org.uk/initial-teacher-training/how-to-apply) # Free School Meals ## Free Schools Meals changed from September 2026 Please take a few minutes to check whether your family is eligible and whether you need to re-apply for the 2026/27 school year. Applying could save your family up to £500 per child each year. **From 1st September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of earnings.** Going forward, there will be two types of eligibility: - **Targeted FSM:** for households in receipt of universal credit earning £7,400 or less. The school is able to claim Pupil Premium funding for this group, so in additional to free schools meals, these pupils receive help with chargeable school trips and musical instrument tuition. Details of this help can be found in section 5 of the Trust’s **[Charging Policy](https://files.schudio.com/twyford-cofe-academies-trust/files/documents/Charging_Policy_-_published.pdf)**. - **Expanded FSM:** for households in receipt of universal credit earning above £7,400. These pupils receive free school meals. #### **End of transitional protections** Since 2018, some children have continued to receive free school meals, even if their family circumstances changed during the rollout of Universal Credit. Now that entitlement is being expanded to all families on Universal Credit, these protections have ended. This means, from 1st September 2026: - **Some children may no longer be eligible** for free school meals if their family does not receive Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit. - Eligibility will now be based on current benefit status. In summary, **free school meals are available at our school but only to families that are eligible. if your child does not currently receive free school meals you may now be eligible under the expanded criteria, but you will need to apply through your local authority. You are strongly advised to check whether you are eligible and register if you are**. The free school meal allowance (Targeted FSM & Expanded FSM) provides **£3.00 of credit per day** which is enough for one of the main hot meals or a baguette sandwich. You might have reservations about registering for free school meals even if you are eligible. However, please be assured that our cashless electronic system preserves the confidentiality of those registered for free school meals. Furthermore, vegetarian options are always provided, and all meat is halal. ### To find out if you are eligible and to register, please visit **** #### Please email **[Student Services](mailto:Student.Services@twyford.ealing.sch.uk)** if you still have a query. Frequently Asked Questions #### **How do I access my FSM?** It is automatically added to your till account each day. You select your food and pay by biometric scan the same as all students using the café. You will not be identified as being on FSM. #### **How much is the allowance?** £3 per day. #### **When can it be used in the café?** Yr7-11 at break or lunch. Yr12-13 from 9am until café closes. #### **What about before school?** The café provide free porridge. Please be aware they charge for additional toppings. #### **Does any un-used allowance carry forward?** No. #### **Does the FSM allowance show on ParentPay?** No. It is added direct to the tills. #### **What if you spend more than £3?** The cost over £3 will be charged to your ParentPay account which needs to be paid for by topping up your Dinner money via **[www.ParentPay.com](http://www.ParentPay.com).** Students can tell their parent/carer if they need to top up their account or you can set up ParentPay so you receive a text if the balance falls below a limit of your choice. #### **What if my ParentPay Dinner money is overdrawn?** The FSM is kept in a separate pot so you can still buy a meal for up to £3 but you cannot spend any more. You will need to top up your Dinner money via ParentPay to clear the overdrawn balance. #### **What can I buy with £3?** The hot meal option or £3 meal deals (including a baguette option), or individually priced items up to the £3 value, or you can combine with topped up funds if you want to spend more. To save money you may wish to provide your child with a drink or re-fillable water bottle. #### **What if I am going on a school trip?** You will be provided with a packed lunch to collect from the trip lead. You can take your own packed lunch or additional items from home if you wish. You might want to bring in a lunch box / your own bag as the café provide packed lunches in a paper bag. #### **My child is entitled to free school meals. Will I still receive a school holiday voucher?** No. School holiday vouchers ended in summer 2026. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please check what other support is available. Visit **[www.ealing.gov.uk/holiday-support](http://www.ealing.gov.uk/holiday-support)** You may be able to get support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Additional help is available through food support, benefits advice and other cost of living services. Visit **[www.ealing.gov.uk/crf](http://www.ealing.gov.uk/crf)** for more information. Please email **[Student Services](mailto:Student.Services@twyford.ealing.sch.uk)** if you still have a query. Local Council Contact Details Free School Meals are awarded by the local council. It is easy to apply online by following the links below: - **[Ealing Council](http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200544/school-aged_children/701/free_school_meals)** Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W5 2HL Telephone 020 8825 5566 - **[Hammersmith and Fulham Council](https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/children-and-young-people/education-support-services/school-meals)** Town Hall, King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9JU Telephone 020 8748 8588 - [**Brent Council**](https://www.brent.gov.uk/education-schools-and-learning/free-school-meals#ismychildeligibleforfreeschoolmeals) Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, London HA9 0FJ Telephone 020 8937 1234 - **[Kensington & Chelsea Council](https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/kb5/rbkc/fis/advice.page?id=zjgOML_Oskw)** Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX Telephone 020 7361 30001 You will be advised if you are eligible or not via a letter from your council. The School is also notified and makes the change to its systems. ### Attending our school - [Attendance](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/attendance) - [Admissions](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/admissions) - [Induction](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/induction) - [Uniform](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/uniform) - [Curriculum](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/curriculum) - [Term Dates & School Calendar](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/termdates) - [Times of School Day](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/times-of-school-day) - [Year Ahead Information](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/year-ahead) - [Free School Meals](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/free-school-meals) - [School Life](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/school-life) - [SEND](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/send) - [Sixth Form](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/sixth-form) - [Pastoral](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/pastoral) - [Safeguarding](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/safeguarding) - [Welfare](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/welfare) - [Wider Learning](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/wider-learning) - [Careers & IAG](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/careers-iag) - [Facilities](https://www.twyford.org.uk/attending-our-school/facilities) - [![Logo of William Perkin CofE High School](https://www.twyford.org.uk/images/academies/william-perkin.png)](https://williamperkin.org.uk/) - [![Logo of Ealing Fields CofE High School](https://www.twyford.org.uk/images/academies/ealing-fields-high-school.png)](https://ealingfields.org.uk/) - [![Logo of Ada Lovelace CofE High School](https://www.twyford.org.uk/images/academies/Ada_Lovelace.jpeg)](https://adalovelace.org.uk/) - [![Logo of Twyford Academies Trust](https://www.twyford.org.uk/images/academies/twyford_MAT.png)](https://twyfordacademies.org.uk/) - [![Logo of Teach West London](https://www.twyford.org.uk/images/academies/Teach_West_Resize.png)](https://www.teachwestlondon.org.uk/) #### Twyford CofE High School Twyford Crescent Acton, London W3 9PP #### Our Schools - [William Perkin CofE High School](https://williamperkin.org.uk/) - [Ealing Fields CofE High School](https://ealingfields.org.uk/) - [Ada Lovelace CofE High School](https://adalovelace.org.uk/) - [Twyford Academies Trust](https://twyfordacademies.org.uk/) - [Teach West London](https://www.teachwestlondon.org.uk/) © Copyright 2021–2026 Twyford CofE High School– [View Privacy Notice](https://www.twyford.org.uk/about-us/policies) School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://www.twyford.org.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)